The Smoothie King at Highland Road and State Street is known for its intriguing signage, most recently spelling out the message, “Riverside Towing Sucks.”
The words resonated in the community, specifically the student body, which has had long-standing grievances with the towing company.
An attorney for Riverside Towing asked for the message to be removed, and Smoothie King employees complied to avoid legal action against them.
That particular message was prompted by a stark increase in cars being towed from the College Row parking lot behind Smoothie King.
According to Smoothie King employees, Riverside Towing had a “spy” camped out in the parking lot, radioing trucks to tow cars of people seen walking to the newly opened Five Guys or Chipotle, as those customers are not permitted to park in the College Row lot.
The schanging marquee has incited both controversy and laughter with some of its past messages, according to store manager E.J. Ryan.
The messages are changed on a weekly basis, unless complaints cause them to be prematurely taken down.
“Yo chick, she so thirsty,” lyrics from the song “Mercy” by Kanye West, received complaints from the community because of its sexual connotation.
During finals week, the sign read, “Vyvanse has nothing on our extreme caffeine.”
Ryan said the messages have been a good marketing tool to attract customers.
“We like to be edgy and draw attention, but we don’t want to go too far,” Ryan said.
All of the slogans are written by employees and managers, according to Ryan.
Employees say it is a common occurrence to see pedestrians stopping to take pictures of the sign.
The week of April 20, the sign read “$5 mediums in case you get the munchies.”
Employees were not afraid to poke fun at LSU football the week after the BCS National Championship loss to Alabama. A sign reading, “Jordan Jefferson vs U High JV,” implied quarterback Jefferson belonged in high school football after his shoddy performance in New Orleans.
 
____ Contact Parker Cramer at [email protected]